William Donald "Don" Lemke

Don Lemke passed away peacefully on March 15, 2026, surrounded by loved ones after a courageous 16-year battle with Parkinson's disease. His final years reflected the same resilience, determination, and quiet strength that characterized his life.

He was known throughout his life for his dedication to family, strong work ethic, and steady character. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, veteran, business owner, brother, and friend.

Don was born on April 15, 1949, in Graham, Texas, to Harold Lemke and Maxine Franklin Lemke. At the age of 10, his family relocated to Utah, where he spent his formative years.

He graduated from Granger High School in 1967. While attending Granger, he met the love of his life, Pam Peery, whom he later married. He and Pam were married for 57 years, building a life together grounded in dedication to family, loyalty, and hard work.

Don proudly served in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War, spending nearly two and a half years at sea aboard the aircraft carrier USS Oriskany. Serving on the flight deck as an electrician, he maintained electrical systems on carrier-based fighter aircraft, primarily the A-7 Corsair II. During his time at sea, he was exposed to Agent Orange and other hazardous chemicals-exposure that later contributed to the health challenges he faced.

Following his military service, he built a life centered on responsibility and perseverance. Together with Pam, they owned and operated a successful business for 23 years, working side by side to build and grow the company into a nationally recognized, award-winning organization. Through their shared leadership, the business became known for its professionalism and commitment to the highest standards of service, earning the trust and respect of those they served within their industry.

He retired in 2007 after decades of dedication to his profession and those he served. In 2020, he and Pam relocated to Arizona, where they remained close to family while he continued his long fight with Parkinson's disease.

Family was at the center of his life. He was a loving husband to Pam, a guiding example to his children, and a proud grandfather whose grandchildren brought him immense joy. He also welcomed his children's spouses as members of his own family, offering them the same pride and care he gave to his daughter and son.

Before illness ever slowed him down, Don lived life in constant motion-and usually at full speed. He bowled in leagues, played racquetball and pickleball, and was an avid golfer who even worked at a course for years, pulling carts out at sunrise and parking them long after dark. In classic Don fashion, he once won a senior pickleball tournament while having a heart attack-refusing to quit mid-match-and then argued afterward about going to the VA instead of the nearest hospital. He had his priorities straight: french fries were eaten first while they were hot, burgers came second, and dessert was never optional-especially if it involved Nilla wafers, Oreos, or vanilla ice cream with caramel. He could finish an entire box of movie popcorn before the next stoplight and consider it completely normal.

He was the guy who pulled more kids on tubes and skis than anyone else on the lake, always circling back with a grin like he was having more fun than they were. At home, he built, fixed, or improved just about everything-decks, walls, sheds, sprinklers, basements-and still somehow found time to keep things spotless. The windows were always clean, the shower scrubbed, and the soft water machine never ran out of salt. His lawn was the greenest on the block, his driveway was cleared before the snow had a chance to settle, and he never missed a garbage day. He had a pool in the backyard that was always clean and kept at the perfect temperature for the girls in his family, and a barbecue that saw more use than most-where he happily spent hours cooking, hosting, and making sure everyone was taken care of. A full backyard was his kind of day.

He coached first-place teams and last-place teams the exact same way, showed up proudly for every game, and became the undisputed Christmas Eve MVP-assembling toys, reading instructions, and placing stickers with surgical precision. He filled sidewalks and walls with chalk drawings, read Consumer Reports like it was a competitive sport, and somehow managed to wear the wheels bald on a lawnmower. He loved his dogs-Tasha, Nikita, and Sammy-whistled to his parakeets each morning over a bowl of Rice Krispies, and made repeated (and mostly unsuccessful) attempts to teach everyone the correct way to load a dishwasher.

Don didn't just stay busy-he showed up, fixed things, made things better, and made people laugh along the way.

Don is survived by his wife, Pam (Peery) Lemke; daughter Michelle Kemp, her spouse Dan Kemp, and their children, Courtney (Daniel) and Justin; son Brian Lemke, his spouse Emma Lemke, and their children, Olivia and Gracelyn; and his siblings, Dan Lemke, Jeanette Hunter, and Sharon Spight.

Those who knew him will remember a man of character, loyalty, humor, and quiet strength who believed deeply in doing the right thing and standing by the people he loved.

His life was defined by service to his country, devotion to his family, and a strong work ethic that guided him throughout his life. His legacy will live on through the many lives he touched and the family he loved so deeply.

Services will be held privately by the family. Military honors will be observed in recognition of his service aboard the USS Oriskany and his dedication to the United States Navy.